France, it will be remembered, sent the Citizen genet over to the United States to take advantage of the supposed gratitude of the American people for aid during the Revolution to fit out privateers and to make our ports bases of operation against the British.
"American Merchant Ships and Sailors"
Willis J. Abbot
It must be admitted that genet would have had an easy task, had he had but the people to reckon with.
"American Merchant Ships and Sailors"
Willis J. Abbot
We Americans are apt to regard with some pride Washington's stout adherence to the most rigid letter of the law of neutrality in those troublous times, and our historians have been at some pains to impress us with the impropriety of Jefferson's scarcely concealed liking for France; but the fact is that no violation of the neutrality law which genet sought was more glaring than those continually committed by Great Britain, and which our Government failed to resent.
"American Merchant Ships and Sailors"
Willis J. Abbot